Editor’s note: In the 10 days leading up to the 2010 NBA draft, Detroit
Pistons beat writer Chris Iott is highlighting the top prospects in the
draft along with several players the Pistons are likely to consider with
the No. 7 pick. Today: Ekpe Udoh, Baylor.

Players can be prepped for interviews, but enthusiasm is difficult to
fake. So when Ekpe Udoh gushes about his love for playing defense, it is
difficult to doubt his sincerity.

And with Joe Dumars preaching the
need for added toughness on the roster, Udoh was singing the Pistons’
tune.

“We all know my offensive game is still developing, so that’s
something I’m going to have to work on,” Udoh said last month at the
pre-draft camp in Chicago. “But defense -- I hang my hat on that. You can
always improve, but I love to play defense.”

Udoh improved immensely
in the year he took off after transferring from the University of
Michigan to Baylor. His 9.8 rebounds per game last season left him
averaging just short of a double-double, and his 133 blocked shots were a
Big 12 Conference single-season record.